When European leaders laid the foundations of the European Union with the 1957 Treaty of Rome, they spoke optimistically of an “ever-closer union,” a “pooling” of resources and “concerted action” to bring the diverse nations together.

I don’t want to talk about the decision itself, it’s big enough for the traditional media to notice, so why spend a blog post on the matter? Just wanted to leave a little comment regarding EU communication:

LONDON — Greece on Sunday announced a long-awaited deal with the European Union and International Monetary Fund for a $145 billion financial rescue, an unprecedented package aimed at preventing a far broader debt crisis from engulfing other nations in Europe.

The finance ministers of the 16 countries of the Eurozone on Sunday agreed to make 80 billion euros available to Greece. The International Monetary Fund is to forward a further 30 billion. Some commentators see the agreement as further proof of the strength of the euro countries. Others fear the cost will be too high and call for reliable mechanisms to prevent such crises in future.

LONDON — British voters appear set to usher in the most divided parliament in generations, potentially ending the two-party dominance that has defined modern Britain and challenging the ability of the next government to tackle a financial hole that rivals the one in Greece.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has been speaking in front of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe today, laying out Russia’s visions for the European political and security architecture.

?Asking who won a given war,? wrote Kenneth Waltz in his classic work ?Man, the State and War? is like asking who won the San Francisco earthquake?. Twentieth century wars were so horrible and destructive that now we have all learned that in wars there is no victory, only varying degrees of defeat. This is the rule. But, as with any other rule, there are exceptions. Here the exceptions are little wars. They cause minor casualties and inspire great emotions, thus bringing an illusion of victory. The Russo-Georgia war of August 2008 was just such a little war. It lasted merely five days, but it succeeded in shattering the belief of Europeans that war in the old continent had become a thing of the past. It not only re-drew the state borders in the Caucasus, it changed the terms of Europe?s security debate.

When terrified men, women and children are being shunted off to countries where they face real and imminent risk of rape, torture, genital mutilation or death, an MP?s urgent appeal to government may tip the balance, stalling removal directions, making time to get legal advice.

But not during a general election campaign, when MPs lose their right to represent constituents’ grievances. ?We will not be able to respond to former MPs, or prospective parliamentary candidates on individual cases,? says the UK Border Agency, ?unless there is a signed letter of authority from the individual they are representing.?